Blood drive alert--Northeast Ohio needs Type-O donors

I hate to say this but AM radio WTAM reaches more northeast Ohio residents [1] than any blog or the PD. Ask my 65 year old neighbor. At least they put out some important community alerts along with the latest American Idol results:

(Cleveland) - The Northern Ohio Red Cross is putting out an urgent request for Type-O blood. Spokesperson Karen Kelley says they are totally out of O-Negative blood, after starting the day with only 14 pints.

O-Negative is universal because anyone can receive it. Type-O is also the most common form of blood, so there is no shortage of potential donors. One-in-3 people have Type-O positive blood. One-in-15 have Type-O Negative.

Kelly says local hospitals are currently requesting 98 pints of O-Negative, but they have none to give. She fears life saving surgeries may be postponed or delayed if donors don't step forward.

Kelly reports that they have exhausted all their sources in the Ohio-Michigan region in terms of O-Negative, and says they approaching the same dangerous situation with o-positive. Other blood types are needed as well.

For information on where to donate, call 1-800-Give-Life.